On This Day
Villaโs second string fail miserably and underline the desperate need for major investment and turnover in personnel outside Emeryโs first XI.
Villa face Stevenage for the first time in competitive football, Stevenage become the 163rd team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.
Matty Cash makes his 85th appearance for Villa since signing from Forest in September 2020 and now has a record of W31 D13 L41, 4 Goals, 6 Assists, 19 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.
Leander Dendoncker receives his first card of any colour on his 11th appearance for Villa and it's a red. Dendoncker's Villa career now reads W4 D2 L5, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 1 Red Card.
Morgan Sanson scores his sole goal for the club on his 22nd Appearance (8 Starts) to make it W7 D5 L10, 1 Goal, 0 Assists and 3 Bookings.
Robin Olsen concedes his 16th goal in a Villa shirt on his 6th appearance (5 Starts) to make it W1 D0 L5, 16 Goals Conceded at a rate of 2.67 goals per game and 1 Clean Sheet (17%) so far in his Villa career.
Ludwig Augustinsson makes his 4th and final appearance for Villa (3 Starts) before having his loan terminated early by Unai Emery and leaving with a record of W1 D2 L2, 1 Booking.
Fellow surprise signing Jan Bednarek also suffers an early termination and leaves with a record of W1 D1 L2.
Villa record consecutive sub 40,000 crowds for the first time in five seasons with an attendance of 32,343 following a 39,978 gate in the previous fixture.
GK Robin Olsen | ๐ธ๐ช |
RB Matty Cash | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐ต๐ฑ | ๐ |
CB Calum Chambers | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Jan Bednarek | ๐ต๐ฑ | ๐ด |
LB Ludwig Augustinsson | ๐ธ๐ช | ๐ | ๐ด |
M Morgan Sanson | ๐ซ๐ท | โฝ | ๐ |
M Leander Dendoncker | ๐ง๐ช | ๐ฅ |
M Douglas Luiz | ๐ง๐ท |
M Philippe Coutinho | ๐ง๐ท | ๐ |
W Leon Bailey | ๐ฏ๐ฒ |
CF Danny Ings | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ | ๐ |
Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | 2022-

Substitutes
๐ | W Emiliano Buendรญa | ๐ฆ๐ท | for M Philippe Coutinho | ๐ง๐ท | 66โ |
๐ | M Jacob Ramsey | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for M Morgan Sanson | ๐ซ๐ท | 67โ |
๐ | W Ashley Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for RB Matty Cash | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐ต๐ฑ | 71โ |
๐ | CF Ollie Watkins | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for CF Danny Ings | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 72โ |
๐ | LB Lucas Digne | ๐ซ๐ท | for LB Ludwig Augustinsson | ๐ธ๐ช | 81โ |
Unused Substitutes
GK Emiliano Martรญnez | ๐ฆ๐ท |
CB Tyrone Mings | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Boubacar Kamara | ๐ซ๐ท |
F Kadan Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
๐ฅ Leander Dendoncker (1)
Trophy Record
European Cup / Champions League: ๐
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1995-96
Matchday Squad
GK Emiliano Martรญnez | ๐ฆ๐ท | ยฃ19.58m |
GK Robin Olsen | ๐ธ๐ช | ยฃ3.15m |
LB Lucas Digne | ๐ซ๐ท | ยฃ27.00m |
RB Matty Cash | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐ต๐ฑ | ยฃ14.18m |
RB Ashley Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
LB Ludwig Augustinsson | ๐ธ๐ช | Loan |
CB Tyrone Mings | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ยฃ20.60m |
CB Calum Chambers | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CB Jan Bednarek | ๐ต๐ฑ | Loan |
M Philippe Coutinho | ๐ง๐ท | ยฃ18.00m |
M Douglas Luiz | ๐ง๐ท | ยฃ15.12m |
M Morgan Sanson | ๐ซ๐ท | ยฃ14.22m |
M Leander Dendoncker | ๐ง๐ช | ยฃ13.50m |
M Jacob Ramsey | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Youth |
M Boubacar Kamara | ๐ซ๐ท | Free |
W Emiliano Buendรญa | ๐ฆ๐ท | ยฃ34.56m |
W Leon Bailey | ๐ฏ๐ฒ | ยฃ28.80m |
CF Danny Ings | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ยฃ31.59m |
CF Ollie Watkins | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ยฃ27.72m |
F Kadan Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Youth |
Unavailable
Injury | 3 |
GK Jed Steer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Achilles, 6 Aug 2022 [21]
CB Diego Carlos | ๐ง๐ท | Achilles, 20 Aug 2022 [19]
M John McGinn | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | Hamstring, 4 Jan 2023 [2]
Out On Loan | 11 |
M Finn Azaz | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Plymouth
CF Louie Barry | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | MK Dons
CF Wesley | ๐ง๐ท | Levante
W Jaden Philogene-Bidace | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Cardiff
RB Kaine Kesler Hayden | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Huddersfield
CF Keinan Davis | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Watford
W Bertrand Traorรฉ | ๐ง๐ซ | Basaksehir
CB Kortney Hause | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Watford
FB Ben Chrisene | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Kilmarnock
M Tim Iroegbunam | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | QPR
CF Cameron Archer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Middlesbrough
Not Selected | 3 |
RB Frรฉdรฉric Guilbert | ๐ซ๐ท |
CB Ezri Konsa | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Marvelous Nakamba | ๐ฟ๐ผ |
Team News
Unai Emery plumps for Villa's second string with no surprises for the game against League Two Stevenage. As much as it would have been lovely to see Villa Youth given an outing the lack of options still at the club probably forced his hand. Morgan Sanson, touted for a move away (again) makes his first start of these season and first since April and will probably receive the loudest roar of the day.
Team Stats
Starting XI Average Age: | 28.10 |
Bench Average Age: | 26.94 |
Squad Average Age: | 27.52 |
Subs Average Age: | 28.42 |
Oldest Starter: GK Robin Olsen | ๐ธ๐ช | 32.46 |
Youngest Starter: M Douglas Luiz | ๐ง๐ท | 24.68 |
Oldest Squad Player: RB Ashley Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 37.53 |
Youngest Squad Player: F Kadan Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 16.98 |
Oldest Substitute: RB Ashley Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 37.53 |
Youngest Substitute: M Jacob Ramsey | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 21.63 |
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
๐ด CB Jan Bednarek | ๐ต๐ฑ | 2022-23 ๐ 4 | 2 (2) | โฝ 0 | ๐ฅ 0 | ๐บ 10 | #984 |
๐ด LB Ludwig Augustinsson | ๐ธ๐ช | 2022-23 ๐ 5 | 3 (2) | โฝ 0 | ๐ฅ 0 | ๐บ 9 | #983 |
Starting XI
Substitutes
Scorer(s) | Morgan Sanson | 33' |
Assist(s) | Danny Ings | 33' |
Match Timeline
โฝ | 33โ Goal, 1-0, Morgan Sanson, Assist by Danny Ings
๐ | HT Aston Villa 1-0 Stevenage
๐ | 66โ Sub off, Philippe Coutinho, Sub on, Emiliano Buendรญa
๐ | 67โ Sub off, Morgan Sanson, Sub on, Jacob Ramsey
๐ | 71โ Sub off, Matty Cash (injury), Sub on, Ashley Young
๐ | 72โ Sub off, Danny Ings, Sub on, Ollie Watkins
๐ | 81โ Sub off, Ludwig Augustinsson (injury), Sub on, Lucas Digne
๐ฅ | 85โ Sending off, Leander Dendoncker
๐ฅ
| 88โ Goal, 1-1, (Stevenage, pen), Jamie Reid
๐ฅ
| 90โ Goal, 1-2, (Stevenage), Dean Campbell
๐ | FT Aston Villa 1-2 Stevenage
Season | 2022-23 |
Matchday | #21 |
Manager Game | #7 |
Sunday, 8 January 2023
Attendance | - |
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | Hondarribia, 2022-
Referee: Graham Scott | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Oxford, 2008-
Kick off: 4.30pm
HT Score: ๐ฉ 1-0
FT Result: ๐ฅ Lost
FT Score: ๐ฅ 1-2
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐ฅ
Officials
Referee: Graham Scott | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Oxford, 2014-
Referee: Graham Scott | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Oxford, 2014-
๐ 9 | ๐ฉ 3 | ๐จ 2 | ๐ฅ 4 | ๐ : 1
๐ 9 | ๐ฉ 33% | ๐จ 22% | ๐ฅ 44% | ๐ : 11%
Cards ๐จ 17 | ๐ฅ 1 | 2.00 |
Penalty โฝ 1 | ๐ฅ
3 |
Last 5: ๐ฅ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ
No VAR in Period
Match Stats
Possession F | 79%
Possession A | 21%
Shots F | 17
Shots A | 7
Shots on Target F | 3
Shots on Target A | 2
Corners F | 3
Corners A | 2
Fouls F | 5
Fouls A | 7
Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | 2022-
๐ 7 | ๐ฉ | 3 ๐จ | 1 ๐ฅ 3 | 1.43
Villa Career Form:
Top 8
What they Said
โI am upset, very disappointed and sorry with our supporters for this FA Cup because it was a very good opportunity to do something. It was a target.
โI am going to wake up and continue the process.
โI will be very demanding like I was, maybe more now.
โWe got 10 points from 15 but the last match we played against Wolves I was very, very upset because I was like, โHey, we are starting so quickly againโฆ not doing the tactical or individual demands I want to put out. And today it was different, completely different.
โIn my career I know everything. I know sometimes we have to lose. We have to make mistakes to really improve and to be demanding in the way we need. I think today we can tell nothing but we have to use, to learn as soon as possible how we can create a new way.โ
Unai Emery.
---
โHe was very sportsmanlike and wished me good luck in the next round. Listen, when you come here youโve got to be very humble. He appealed for some decisions, we appealed for some decisions. But Unai was very, very humble, as Emi (Martinez) was.
โThey are all very humble. Weโll go back to our coach home. Our players as well will remember this for a long time.
โA few of the Villa players gave them a hug and wished them well which speaks well of the playing squad here.
โEmi (Martinez) played for me for four months at Rotherham and he was simply stunning at us. I was really annoyed when my staff came in and hugged him before the game but I was in the dressing room!
โBut he came up to me afterwards and said, โTypical Evans! Typical Evans! The underdog wins!โ Then he had a big smile. But Iโll catch up with him properly at some stage.
โHe was hurting, I could tell on his face and, if youโre Emi Martinez and that happens, youโre hurting. I could see the hurt on Watkinsโ face, Ashley Youngโs face. Is it hurt or embarrassment, maybe itโs both.โ
Stevenage manager Steve Evans.
---
โPhilippe Coutinho comes off.
โThe substitution took longer than usual as they had to dig him out of Luther James-Wildinโs back pocket.โ
Stevenage Twitter account.
**League Two Stevenage produced an incredible late comeback to stun Premier League Aston Villa at Villa Park and reach the FA Cup fourth round.**
The visiting players and manager Steve Evans celebrated with their supporters at full-time after two goals in the final two minutes clinched a magnificent victory.
Substitute Dean Campbell fired in a superb 90th-minute winner after Jamie Reidโs equaliser from the penalty spot - the spot-kick awarded after last man Leander Dendoncker was shown a straight red card for bringing down Campbell.
Morgan Sansonโs first goal for Villa had given Unai Emeryโs side a half-time lead over a side ranked 59 places below them in the football pyramid.
But the hosts, despite their overall superiority, were unable to extend their advantage and they were made to pay in a remarkable conclusion to the match.
Fourth tier Stevenageโs reward is a trip to Championship outfit Stoke City in the fourth round, which takes place from 27 to 30 January.
For 84 minutes, it all appeared rather straightforward for Aston Villa.
But their bid to end their worst ever FA Cup losing run - which extends to an eighth match - unravelled from the moment Dendoncker was dispossessed on the edge of his own box and grabbed the shirt of Campbell.
Referee Graham Scott appeared to initially award a free-kick but then produced a red card and pointed to the spot, allowing a video assistant referee review to confirm the penalty.
Reid held his nerve to send Robin Olsen the wrong way and put Stevenage on course for a replay - a feat which would have been a fantastic achievement on its own.
But the League Two side were not done yet and some quick thinking from Jake Reeves to pass his corner to Campbell resulted in the 21-year-old Scot drilling a shot into the bottom corner and sending the away fans into raptures.
Villa have now progressed from just one FA Cup tie since reaching the 2015 final. Stevenage, meanwhile, are the first fourth tier side to beat a Premier League team in an away FA Cup tie for four years.
Wasteful Villa made to pay
A manager with a rich history in cup competitions, four-time Europa League winner Emery made his intentions clear this week as he announced he was preparing his side for this match with the objective of โwinning the FA Cupโ.
Five years after he joined Barcelona in a ยฃ142m move from Liverpool in January 2018, Brazilian Philippe Coutinho started among eight changes from Villaโs midweek Premier League draw with Wolves.
The hosts dictated from the start - they ended the match having averaged 78.6% possession - but Douglas Luizโs long-range effort was the only test for goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond before Stevenage offered their first warning.
Luke Norris was unlucky to marginally mistime his run before he provided a great assist to set up Danny Rose for what the visitors momentarily believed was a shock opener.
An intricate passing move produced Villaโs opener, Ings teeing up Frenchman Sanson for his first goal for the club, but Stevenage stuck to their task and almost had a stunning equaliser when Norris skimmed the top of the crossbar with an excellent curled attempt.
They continued to defend resolutely as Villa increased the pressure after the break.
Perhaps too keen to impress in his first start under Emery, the misfiring Coutinho left the field after 65 minutes, having had a match-leading five attempts but landing just one on target.
There had been little to suggest the match would end as it did. After all, Stevenage scored with their only two shots on target. But what unfolded will live long in the memory of the 3,000 travelling fans present to witness a truly memorable fightback.
GK Taye Ashby-Hammond | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB Luther James-Wildin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Dan Sweeney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Terence VanCouten | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
CB Carl Piergianni | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Max Clark | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
M Jordan Roberts | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Jake Reeves | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Jake Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | ๐ |
CF Danny Rose | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
CF Luke Norris | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
Steve Evans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Substitutes
๐ | M Dean Campbell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | โฝ | for LB Max Clark | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 63โ |
๐ | CF Jamie Reid | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ | for CF Danny Rose | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 63โ |
๐ | W David Amoo | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for CF Luke Norris | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 67โ |
๐ | RB Kane Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for M Jake Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | 68โ |
๐ | CB Michael Bostwick | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for CB Terence VanCouten | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 83 โ |
Unused Substitutes
GK Aaron Chapman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
๐ฅ Leander Dendoncker (1)
Opposition Trophy Record
European Cup / Champions League: โ
League Champions: โ
FA Cup Winners: โ
League Cup Winners: โ
Last Trophy: โ
Opposition Matchday Squad
GK Aaron Chapman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
GK Taye Ashby-Hammond | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Loan |
RB Luther James-Wildin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
LB Max Clark | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
RB Kane Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CB Dan Sweeney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CB Terence Vancooten | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CB Carl Piergianni | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CB Michael Bostwick | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
M Jordan Roberts | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
M Jake Reeves | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
M Jake Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | Free |
M Dean Campbell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | Loan |
W David Amos | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CF Jamie Reid | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CF Danny Rose | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
CF Luke Norris | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free |
Opposition Unavailable
Not Recorded

